Under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of the King of Bahrain and President of the Supreme Council for Women, the second edition of ArtBahrain is set to open its doors again in October this year it was announced during a Press Conference today at Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay.

Having witnessed remarkable success in its inaugural 2015 version, the international art fair plans to showcase even more creative talent, and has already secured the support of regional and international artists and galleries as well as key sponsors.

The 2015 edition of ArtBahrain hosted nearly 50 participants from 17 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Far East and Asia and witnessed a footfall of nearly 15,000 visitors with total sales topping BD170,000. The event featured the works of acclaimed artists and galleries, and introduced the public to diverse art aptitudes from classic acrylic to sculpture, digital photography and new age installation.

“Our aim is to increase participation by 10-15% this year and reach out to artists, art institutions, countries and regions that were not represented previously”, commented ArtBahrain Co-founder Kaneka Subberwal. “Based on the positive response we have received so far, we are confident we can achieve this target and build on last year’s success. Bahrain has a refined level of appreciation and talent for art which makes it an attractive location for an international fair of this nature. Events like ArtBahrain are a celebration of the country’s creative spirits and provide the regional and global art communities with a stimulant for the exchange of ideas, and a venue to converge, share space and inspiration.”

ArtBahrain is a culmination of artists, galleries, collectors and art lovers from around the world and serves as a strong platform to showcase the very best talent in the global arts arena. This prominent exhibition provides an ideal setting for the local, regional and global art communities to engage, synergize and stimulate creativity, promoting Bahrain’s emerging talent and the region’s artistic vivacity as a whole.

“Bahrain is fast emerging as a major player in the arts and boasts tremendous talent; the country’s flourishing art scene holds great potential to drive investment and encourage the next generation of artists”, further explained Ms. Subberwal who is also the Founder and Managing Director of Art Select, an art advisory that is curating the fair.

This year ArtBahrain will form part of the calendar of events planned by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority to commemorate the country’s standing as Manama Gulf Capital of Tourism 2016. Commenting on this initiative, Mr. Souad Al Hamer, Program Coordinator at the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority stated, “We are pleased that ArtBahrain has joined our calendar of activities. This exhibition will add another dimension to the events planned this year further positioning the Kingdom as a leading hub for arts and culture.”

Note to Editors

About | ArtBahrain

ArtBahrain is a platform to bring the world to Bahrain and to share the Bahraini artistic perspective with the rest of the world. It is organised by Pico International Bahrain and curated by Art Select. The first edition of ArtBahrain was held in October 2015.

The art market in Bahrain has been growing consistently in recent years and ArtBahrain will establish a forward thinking platform to further promote the growth of art in the country. ArtBahrain provides an unprecedented opportunity for international artists, galleries and collectors to access this dynamic market.